Nether Worry

Part 7

Pairing: Agent Washington/Tucker, Caboose/Church, Grif/Simmons

Description: In which the Reds and Blues come across a lonely Creative Mode dweller, Sarge makes about ten times more Iron Golems than are strictly necessary, and where Tucker learns that Wash is indeed not a replacement for Church and that may or may not be a bad thing after all.

A/N: Sorry it's late! Please R&R!

The time was somewhere around five AM when Washington was roused awake by Tucker's moans, certainly not ones he would've liked… had he seriously thought that, at a time like this? The other miner, the one who had moaned, was writhing on his bed in agony, groaning and aching from an unknown sickness or wound. Wash sat up, his brow furrowing as he looked over Tucker curiously, watching the poor miner whine as he clutched his belly, which, Wash had noticed, was much bigger since Tucker had returned a week prior. He had played it off as Tucker overeating, having after all been mostly starved during his adventure, but the miner had no idea if such a thing was true.

The grey miner pulled himself out of bed, coming to stand over Tucker, placing his hand over the younger man's forehead, feeling great warmth immediately smother his once ice cold hand. Tucker whimpered again, trying to roll over, only to have Wash roll him back onto his back, running his hand across Tucker's forehead again in a comforting manner. Behind him, Caboose woke up, coming to stand beside Wash in his pajamas, Epsilon held to his chest in his arms. He gave Tucker a long, worried stare, bright blues gleaming as he looked over Tucker's slightly bloated belly. The blue looked ready to reach out and pat Tucker, but Wash grabbed Caboose's incoming fingers, shaking his head no.

"What is wrong with Tucker, Washingtub?" Caboose asked curiously, blinking as Tucker forced his pillow over his aching head.

"I'm not really sure, Caboose. I'm no doctor, and I've never really had to deal with sickness in Creative Mode." Washington admitted to the younger blue, shaking his head as somebody knocked on the door. "Fuck. Caboose, you watch Tucker and keep him in bed. Tucker, stay put, for the love of God."

As soon as Wash opened the door, Grif, Simmons, Sarge, and Donut flooded in, Lopez following behind, stopping to bark at Epsilon, who growled at the wolf angrily. "What the fuck are you guys doing here?" Wash asked, looking them over. "We're not due for a visit until Friday night for Monster hunting."

"We heard a rucuss and needed ta give 'er a check," Sarge explained, giving Wash a small nod. "Ya know how it goes."

"Yeah," Grif added, looking sleepy and irritated. "And when shit gets loud, it's usually 'cus of you Blues."

Washington sighed, shaking his head, but made no move to kick the Reds out. "Tucker is sick," He explained, motioning towards Tucker's hurting form. "We're not sure what's wrong with him."

Sarge hovered over Tucker, looking the poor man over, nodding to himself as he came to an answer. "I think I know what's been happenin'," He stated, smirking at Washington. "Either A; Tucker has finally conformed to being a Red, but has been disowned like the Blue heretic he is by the Red God himself. Or B; he's gonna be a mommy."

"Uh…" Simmons had no words that he could really put together to explain his amazement. "Sarge… what the fuck?"

"What!?" Sister shouted, awake and loud as she shot up out of her bed, having been out cold seconds ago. "Tucker is having a baby!?"

"No one is having a baby!" Wash assured the yellow clad teenager, sighing deeply, rubbing his forehead. "Sarge, both of those are utterly ridiculous. I'm sure it's nothing but a cold he picked up on his journey, nothing more, nothing less."

"Yeah, well- then you can get me a bucket!" Tucker ordered, much more irritable and snappy in his sick or pregnant state. "And make it fast, I feel like shit!"

Wash looked ready to protest, so it was just his luck that Tucker immediately threw up his dinner from last night, an awful smell filling the base quickly. "Oh for the love of-"

"-I'll get the mop…" Caboose said with both distaste and disappointment, dragging his feet sadly as he made to get said mop.

"WASH!" Tucker screeched, now sat up comfortably in bed, surrounded by pillows and a few pictures Sister and Caboose had drawn for him. "I need you!"

"Coming!" Washington replied, running through the base, a bucket at the ready.

"Why aren't you in uniform?" Tucker asked, voice getting soft and small as he pushed the blanket up over his mouth, eyes at the ready.

Wash rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "I'm not wearing that damn outfit, Lavernius Tucker." He stated, pouting childishly. "It's completely unnecessary."

Tucker's eyes got a little glassy looking, he sniffled even, making Wash feel like the biggest asshole in the universe. "But Wash… it'll make me feel so much better so much faster…"

"Did your ex really do this for you when you got sick back in your old village?" Wash asked, crossing his arms, beginning to give in.

"Yeah! It was a tradition… I miss her so much, Wash. Please oh please…. you've just gotta do this for me…" Tucker half-begged, trying to sound helpless.

Wash full on groaned, but nonetheless, ran off to get his 'Uniform'. Upon his departure, Sister and Grif entered the room, nodding at Tucker. "Sup, Tuck!" Sister greeted warmly.

"Sup, guys," Tucker replied, sitting up at once, abandoning the 'Woe is me' act in a heartbeat. "How ya doing?"

"Alright I guess," Grif answered, shrugging nonchalantly. "Donut keeps making us run 'Disease Awareness' drills. Me and Sister split when he started mentioning 'Together Showers'."

Tucker outwardly shivered. "Sick!" He exclaimed, sticking his mouth out, groaning as an ache ran it's way through his nervous system. "Fuck…"

"Flu still killing ya?" Sister inquired. Upon earning a nod, she smirked, running her hands over Tucker's stomach. "Here, this outta make it better…"

"Ow!" Tucker complained, wrenching away when Sister pressed too hard. "Careful, man! I feel and look like a Creeper ready to pop a boner!"

"Tucker?" Washington asked from the other room, light tapping coming from his direction. "What was it ya needed now?"

Tucker panicked. "Uh… Wash!?" He sounded histarical. "You might wanna… uh… just, fuck, I need another bucket!"

"That's all?" Wash asked, entering, holding said bucket securely in his white-gloved hand. "If that's all ya needed, I coulda gotten it without the… fuck…"

Grif, Sister, and Tucker all stared at Washington, who was dressed in a rather skimpy black and white maid's outfit, black heels and all. Honestly, the man looked nice in heels, but Grif and Sister randomly guessed it came from growing up with an older sister. The blonde blushed wildly, trying to pull the dress down more over his underwear, but it did little good to hide quite a bit to the searching eyes. After a moment, the Grif Siblings fell into a fit of shared laughter, their laughs not too much different, both amazingly cute and Cancer-Curing in their own ways. Washington blushed even more, looking away, face bright red with embarrassment. Tucker looked a bit guilty, but still chuckled a bit, secretly loving the sight.

"H-H-Holy SHIT!" Grif screeched out, rolling on the floor, unable to stay standing. "Aw Christ! This is the bed day ever, of all time!"

Sister was laughing just as hard, before she crawled onto her knees, getting in a praying position. "God," She managed, giggling before she speak again. "It's Kai… I know I said I was an atheist… I was wrong. So, so wrong." She crawled over to Wash, kissing his hand. "Thank you, Wash. Thank you so fucking much!"

Grif finally got up after a little while, helping Sister to feet, both stumbling to the door as they continued to giggle and laugh. As soon as they were gone, Wash death-glared at Tucker, who gave him a bobcat smile, completely amused and guilty. "You okay, Wash?"

"Besides my destroyed dignity? Yeah, I'm fine, Lavernius," Washington muttered, pouting as he crossed his arms, hating how constricting the dress was. "I hate you."

"Aw," Tucker cooed, smiling a bit softer at Wash. "You look nice. 'Sides, fuck those guys, not like embarrassing shit hasn't happened to them…"

"Like what?" Wash asked, suddenly very curious, sitting on the edge of Tucker's bed, placing the bucket on the floor beside the bed. "I'd love to know…"

Tucker grinned, relaxing in his bed. "Maybe I'll tell you a few things, I mean, we got the time…"

Before the two could get any closer (More like before Juju's Tuckington moment could happen), a loud scream carried from outside into the base.

"He was wearing what now!?" Sarge yelled, Simmons, Grif, and Sister laughing very loudly in the distance.

Wash blushed and ducked his head. "I… I'm just gonna… go get dressed. Ya know, before Grif and Sister have physical evidence."

Tucker nodded, if somewhat sadly, as Wash walked away. "Good idea, dude," He muttered, looking away as Wash disappeared around the corner. "Not like you looked sexy in that… ow, fuck, cramps!"

"This is going nowhere!" Washington shouted, glaring at his boots and he crossed his arms, not looking the least bit pleased. "Tucker is sick, Caboose is trying but failing to help, Sister and Grif keep laughing when they look at me, Simmons is nowhere to be found, and Donut keeps trying to spray me with some kinda anti-sick thing or whatever."

"'S not so bad, Wash," Sarge insisted, for once comforting the Ex-Creative Mode dweller. "I mean, least yer not dead!"

"Yeah, that's real reassuring." Wash muttered angrily, shaking his head in defeat. "I swear, I can't take anymore useless bullshit today!"

Suddenly, Sarge stood, glaring at something in the distance. "What in God's name- dammit, we got enemies inbound!" He readied his bow, breathing hard.

Wash stopped, turning around swiftly, only to be slammed into the ground by something way too heavy to be human. The man wriggled and squirmed until he was free and on his feet, sword in hand and ready to swing, before he stopped dead in his tracks, eyes growing wide as he looked his attacker up and down. "Maine?"

The Goliath nodded, picking Wash right up off the ground, giving him a rare bear-hug. The shorter, less strong man just froze, tempted to cry from joy at finally seeing at least one of his long lost friends. However, in seconds, North and York took Maine's place, if a bit less cuddly, just ruffling his hair and smirking like the knuckleheads they were. Carolina was next with Connie, Connie hugging around his waist tightly, Carolina kissing his forehead and whispering something along the lines of 'Missed ya, bro'. After awhile, even South stepped forward, simply smirking and giving him a playful punch to the shoulder, making the grey miner wince a bit, having forgotten South's great strength.

"What in Sam Hell is goin' on in this 'ere canyon!?" Sarge demanded to know, looking at the Freelancers wildly. "Who are these folks?"

"Sarge," Wash started, smiling warmly as he took a nice, deep breath, taking it all in. "These are my friends; these are the Freelancers."

Sarge stood there, eyes wide, their icy blue color shining a bit beneath the shadow of his blood red helmet.

"Oh."

"So, these are the late asshole Freelancers?" Tucker asked twenty minutes later, sat up in his bed, eyebrow raised at the gathered miners. "I'm not impressed."

"Tucker…" Washington made sure to add warning to his voice, knowing how short-tempered Carolina was. He supposed she got it from both of their parents.

All the Freelancers exchanged a few glances, unsure of what to say or how to interact with the newly introduced miners. North seemed less stressed out, having been taken aside along with South to draw and talk with Caboose, to which South had proceeded to draw obscenities and to North tisking at her like an old man. Connie was now on Maine's shoulders, a common place to find her these days, her hair style being stared at with impressed eyes by Donut. Maine stayed stoic and quiet, occasionally glancing at Grif, who he saw was staring way too longingly at his Enchanted Iron Sword. Simmons, Sarge, Carolina, York, and Wyoming all kept politely quiet, watching Wash and Tucker's interaction curiously.

"What? I'm just saying! They're fucking late as dicks, you were heartbroken without them around, dude!" Tucker explained, pouting and crossing his arms angrily. "If you should be getting pissed at anyone, it's them!"

"Tucker, I'm not pissed, I'm just concerned that you'll trigger Carolina into ripping your testicles off in one, foul swoop!" Washington stated, glaring at the aqua miner.

"It's true," Carolina promised, gaining everyone, even Caboose and the Dakota Twin's, attention. "What? If a guy pisses you off and he just leaves 'em hanging out there… girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."

"Word." South added, nodding proudly as she finished scribbling something in brown crayon, using it in an almost gentle fashion with her strokes before holding it up proudly. "Look; I drew a dick."

Caboose gazed at South's artwork, thoroughly impressed. "Oh my gosh, you drew a banana!" He explained, looking it up and down. "Can you teach me to draw fancy bananas?"

South grinned, patting Caboose's the head lovingly. "'Course I will, kid. I'll teach you to draw the biggest, hairiest, most beautiful bananas ever!"

"South," It was North's turn to warn South, giving her an unimpressed look. "Quit spoiling the minds of those who aren't you."

"Whatever, Mom!" South countered, chucking her crayon at North.

At once, Caboose grabbed South's still raised hand, holding it in a bruising grip that South could not escape no matter what she tried. "Do not throw things," Caboose ordered in a stern tone, sounding almost unreal. "We do not throw pretty color sticks at our friends. Understand?"

South gulped, wriggling nonstop. "Yes, sir." She mumbled in a weaker tone, one only North had heard her use as a child, on only a few, rare occasions.

That seemed to trigger Caboose back into his happy-go-lucky self, making him running his fingers comfortingly through South's hair. "Yay!" He cheered, smiling at her kindly. "Now we can continue to be super friends!"

Everyone else just stared, eyes wide. South regained as white as a sheet, taking a few minutes to just stare at her paper before returning to drawing, looking much less cocky now that she'd seen another side of Caboose. North reacted similarly, keeping his eyes on Caboose, but not enough to enact suspicion of any kind on himself from the blue dressed miner.

"I… I'm gonna pretend I never saw that…" York decided, earning a few nods. Even Maine looked scared for a few minutes, before looking gruff and fearless again.

"So…" Tucker trailed off, drumming his fingers on his bed, before his stomach started aching again. "Aw, fuck! Not again!"

"What's wrong?" A voice asked from outside, Doc having stayed outdoors out of nervousness of the Freelancers he'd befriended during his travels. "Um, I'm a medic, so… I could check you out and see what's wrong."

"You're a doctor?" Wash asked, looking intrigued. Anything that could get Tucker better faster was a Godsend in his mind. "Tucker here has been really sick lately… he can't even get up today…"

"Interesting," Doc commented, kicking into his Town Healer mode quickly. "Alright, so, I'll be needing everyone to leave the room if I'm to be checking our patient out…"

"You heard 'im! Everybody out!" Sarge ordered, firing an arrow into the roof for emphasis. "Quit stalling and get yer asses movin'!"

"I like this guy," Carolina commented as she passed, smirking at Sarge, to which Sarge simply glared back. Her aqua armor was a travesty upon his name as a Red.

It took longer for Wash to leave, his eyes still gazing at Tucker. "You sure about me going, Tucker?"

The darker man rolled his grey eyes, chuckling. "I'll be okay, Wash," He insisted, smirking at the older miner. "I'll scream if anything comes up, 'kay?"

"… 'Kay." Washington finally agreed, eyes lingering before he huffed out, leaving Doc to take care of his patient.

A/N: Oh yes, I think we ALL know where this is going! And if you don't, I'm a bit disappointed. But, if you haven't figured it out, here's a hint; there's gonna be another member to the Blue Team very soon! Also, the next update MIGHT be here next Friday, but now the fic is all caught up with my AO3 account, so... we'll see if I can do it or not!

~CabooseHeart.